All posts in Poems

Experiments in Revision!

Today, we did a wild revision experiment in both the 5th and 8th grade classes at Clinton Elementary. The students each chose a poem from the year that they were interested in continuing to […]

Sharing Know-How

Our Sayre students’ read the poem, “The Gift” by Ocean Vuong and considered the intertwining of narrative and imagery. We were especially struck by “the b bursting its belly/ as dark dust blows/ through […]

Secret Dreams

For their 6 week of poetry, Twain 6th graders explored ideas about dreams. Dreams can be stories we create while we are sleeping, wishes we want to come true, or goals we have for […]

❤️Love Poems

For our 3rd meeting, Dubois students wrote love poems inspired by Eloise Greenfield’s poem “Honey, I Love.” Enjoy a sampling, here! Ms. Wilson4th/5th Grade I loveby Tru’zell T. I love when the cool water […]

“A poem, folded small”

Last week at Swift, we talked about gifts. Students discussed gifts they have received, such as video games, baby dolls, pets, family, and being in the world. And then talked about gifts they would […]

Touching Our Senses

Last week, during our third sessions, Shoesmith 4th graders continued to massage their senses and reflections to write poems about colors and memories. Enjoy a sampling, here: Ms. Lehner4th Grade – Group 1 Steven […]

Cutting Up!: Collage Poems

Students used magazines and created cut-up poems! They used ‘found language’ and images to create new meaning. Lesson Note: Creative Artist guru Julia Cameron says the part of us that creates art is about […]

Seeing the World in Color

For our last session with Waters’ 6th graders, color was on our minds! We listened to a lyric video for the Rolling Stones song “Pain It Black” and talked abut how black shows up […]

Ugh, Gross!

Sometimes, the ick is real. Last week, Grissom’s 6-8th graders had lots to say about their pet peeves. We spent some time sharing some of our icks like chewing loudly and flies buzzing in […]

My People- 7th Grade

This week we read and discussed Langston Hughes piece My People. We talked about the communities and identities we belong to, and how we can celebrate them. We also explored the list poem form […]

Donate

Support our student poets today!

CONNECT WITH US!

Twitter Facebook-f Instagram

STUDENT POETRY

Click on a school name below to browse student poems from current school partners.

POETRY ARCHIVE

Click on a school name below to browse student poems from our archive.

RECENT FACEBOOK POSTS

TESTIMONIALS

“Writing poetry makes me feel like I can see myself, like I can see my reflection, but not in a mirror, in the world. I write and I know I can be reflected.”
-Oscar S.

“Writing poetry makes me feel free.”
-Buenda D.

“Writing poetry is like your best friend.”
-Jessica M.

Search

CONTACT US

General Inquiries
info@poetrycenter.org

Programs (School & Organizational)
programs@poetrycenter.org

Reading Series and Events:
curator@poetrycenter.org

The Chicago Poetry Center is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
FEIN: 23-7400515

SEND US A POSTCARD

Chicago Poetry Center
1448 E. 52nd St, #256
Chicago, IL 60615

I’M FROM THE CITY LIGHTS / STREAMING OUT IN THE NIGHT / AND HUGE SKYSCRAPERS / TOWERING OVER THE LAKE – MELISSA E., 7TH GRADE POET